How to Make Copper Garden Ornaments

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How to Make Copper Garden Ornaments

Overview

Copper garden ornaments can add beauty and whimsy to your landscape. You can make copper garden ornaments from 5 mil copper foil available in rolls at local craft stores. The foil is much thicker than household foil, but still cuts easily with sharp household shears. Create any type of ornament designs that you like with the help of readily available templates. Stake the ornaments in the ground around your garden with copper tubing, or hang them from trees and plants with fishing line.

Step 1

Tape the hummingbird template onto the copper foil. Templates of hummingbirds and other garden creatures are available online and in coloring books.

Step 2

Trace the outline of the hummingbird onto the copper foil with a pen. Cut around the outline with sharp household shears.

Step 3

Repeat steps 1 and 2 three more times. This will give you an ornament stake with four hummingbirds in a vertical row. Increase or decrease the number as you like.

Step 4

Cut a 24-inch length of copper tubing. Drill holes 1 inch, 6 inches, 11 inches and 16 inches from one end of the tubing. Position the holes in a straight line and drill through the copper tubing.

Step 5

Puncture two holes in the center of each hummingbird's body with an awl. Position the holes close together, about 1/8 inches apart.

Step 6

Cut four 6-inch strips of 22-gauge copper wire. Fold each wire in the center. Thread the two ends of one wire through the two drilled holes in each of the hummingbirds. Twist the wires together at the back of the copper hummingbirds.

Step 7

Attach the hummingbirds to the copper tubing stake by threading the twisted wire through the drilled holes. Wrap the wires around the copper tubing to secure each of the hummingbirds to the tubing. Place the hummingbirds so that each one is facing alternate directions. For example, from top to bottom, face the hummingbirds right-left-right-left.

Step 8

Insert the open end of the copper into the ground in your garden.

Things You'll Need

Copper foil

Hummingbird template

Tape

Pen

Sharp household shears

Copper tubing

Pipe cutters

Measuring tape

Drill

Small drill bit

Awl

22-gauge copper wire

Wire cutters

References

Whimsie: Embossing and Tooling Metal Foil

Who Can Help

About this Author

Katherine Kally is a freelance writer specializing in eco-friendly home improvement projects, practical craft ideas and cost effective decorating solutions. As a content creator for Demand Studios and private clientele, Kat's work is featured on sites across the web. Kally holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of South Carolina and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.